The YouCanPlay initiative, Brooks' involvement, and this thread -- it all just makes me so proud to be a hockey fan and a Penguin fan. I'm always so afraid of organized sports showing itself up as homophobic -- to the point that I hardly ever reveal to gay friends/colleagues (which are basically the majority of people in my life) that I am a hockey fan or even a sports fan.

It's just so, so good to see this. It's one of the greatest things I've seen a Penguin involved with in my life, and I especially love that it's our "meanest," "most aggressive" (aka, most "manly") player who is taking the lead (well, at least he is all of these things in reputation -- if only he still played that way ).

Spread the word far and wide that Brooks Orpik, he of the horrifyingly intimidating stare, is 100% behind total tolerance and acceptance.